UNMIK/PR/715
Pristina – SRSG Michael Steiner today sent a letter to Bishop Artemije on issues of importance to the future of Kosovo: peace and stability, rule of law, returns, the recent violence in North Mitrovica.
SRSG Michael Steiner will meet with Bishop Artemije on Tuesday, April 16 in the Monastery of Visoki Decani.
The letter was hand-delivered by Chief of UNMIK Police Stefan Feller.
Please find a copy of the letter below:
His Grace Artemije
Bishop of Raska - Prizren Eparchy
Monastery
Gracanica
Pristina 12 April 2002
Your Grace,
I am very much looking forward to meet with you in the Monastery of Visoki Decani next Tuesday. This will be a welcome opportunity for me to visit this very famous treasure of the world’s cultural heritage. It will also allow me to discuss the current situation with the spiritual leaders of the Kosovo Serb Community. I am in particular keen to discuss with you the way ahead. I think we now have the chance to achieve progress regarding returns of refugees and displaced persons.
Such progress would constitute a major contribution to the stability of the Serb Community in Kosovo. I am well aware of the correlation between safety and stability in Kosovo on the one side and returns on the other. The Serb Community will not have stability without security and the rule of law, and it will be a major impediment to return if displaced persons feel threatened because of the lack of rule of law. Particularly due to this correlation I view the situation in Mitrovica with great concern.
Recent events have shown once more that a small group that pretends to defend the interests of members of the Serb community in Mitrovica, but which in fact follow only selfish personal interests, undermines the rule of law in this municipality. Worse than that, the recent events risk tarnishing the image of the Serb community in Kosovo. Furthermore, they are harmful to those within the majority community who actively work with us for multi-ethnicity.
Thus, these elements in fact act against the best interests of the Kosovo Serb Community which seeks only to live in peace and security. I saw this for myself when I visited the victims of the violence together with the Prime Minister of Poland, Mr. Leszek Miller, who underlined his solidarity with UNMIK and the brave Polish policemen whose task is to maintain the rule of law under extremely difficult circumstances.
In the interest of the people in Kosovo and the reputation of the vast majority of the Kosovo Serbs, we must restore the rule of law. I am sure that this endeavor will receive the support of the true leaders of the Kosovo Serb community. And I am confident that the restoration of a culture of the rule of law will contribute towards progress on returns despite all difficulties.
I have asked my Police Commissioner, Mr. Stefan Feller, to hand over this message to you, and be ready to inform you about the situation in Mitrovica.
Following up my recent meeting with His Holiness, Patriarch Pavle in Belgrade, I shall inform him about this message.
Sincerely,
Michael Steiner
Special Representative of the Secretary General
